Of course we need to take into account that the painted portraits are not always faithful representations of all detail. However, my belief is that that odd term "stomacher" originally referred to a large embroidered decoration covering the bodice, and for those long pointed bodices the decoration would have extended down to over the stomach. I imagine that more wealthy people added diamonds or other stones to the embroidery. In time, for the most wealthy, and probably royally grand, the diamonds replaced the embroidery so that the stomacher developed into a fully jewelled bodice ornament known by that odd word stomacher.
--Previous Message-- : Thanks for the great pictures Nellie, : especially those of Queen Charlotte, the : detailed information re the Hanovarian claim : is quite fascinating! : The thing I was wondering about is the : stomacher in the portraits? The sepia : picture certainly features a lot of diamonds : but could the decoration seen in the : "original portrait" really be a : stomacher or embroidery, it just looks too : "together" for jewels? but of : course it is a painting, so a lot is up to : the artist. :